Saturday, September 1, 2012

UNDERSTANDING CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES

Understanding Catholic Universities

Joaquin G.
Bernas, S.J.

In discussing Catholic Universities one must begin with Canon 808 of the Code of
Canon Law which says: “Even if it really be Catholic, no
university may bear the title or name Catholic university without the consent of the competent
ecclesiastical authority.” In that technical juridical sense,the Ateneo and almost all other
institutions in the Philippines, save one perhaps, which are publicly regarded
as Catholic, are not in juridical terms Catholic. But are they Catholic in any other sense?

Even Canon 808 suggests that institutions which do not have the
ecclesiastical title of Catholic can in fact be “really Catholic.” The appellation of Catholic can come
from various sources. It can come,
for instance, from its origins as founded by various religious orders of men
and women. That in fact is how
most Catholic institutions in the Philippines started. The appellation also comes from what in
fact they do. For this reason
these institutions are recognized as affiliated with the Church even if not
“canonically Catholic.”

It must also be said that a canonical title is not the litmus
test for being truly Catholic. Pope John Paul II in fact looks for more in a
Catholic university. In a speech
before Catholic universities in the United States, both canonically recognized
and not, he said:

“A Catholic university or
college must make a specific contribution to the Church and to society through
high quality scientific research, in depth study of problems, and a just sense
of history, together with the concern to show the full meaning of the human
person regenerated in Christ, thus favoring the complete development of the
person. Furthermore, the Catholic
university or college must train young men and women of outstanding knowledge
who, having made a personal synthesis of faith and culture, and both capable
and willing to assume tasks in the service of the community and of society in
general, and to bear witness to their faith before the world. And finally, to be what it ought to be,
a Catholic college or university must set up, among its faculty and students, a
real community which bears witness to a living and operative Christianity, a
community where sincere commitment to scientific research and study goes
together with a deep commitment to authentic Christian living.

“This is your identity. This is your vocation. . . . The term ‘Catholic” will never be a
mere label, either added or dropped according to the pressures of varying
factors.”

Briefly, a Catholic university is not just an institute for
teaching catechism..

Further, in the same speech, John Paul II emphasized the
importance of academic freedom: “As one who for long years have been a
university professor, I will never tire of insisting on the eminent role of the
university, which is to instruct but also to be a place of scientific
research. In both these fields,
its activity is deeply related to the deepest and noblest aspiration of the
human person: the desire to come to the knowledge of truth. No university can rightfully deserve
the esteem of the world of higher learning unless it applies the highest
standards of scientific research, constantly updating the methods and working
instruments, and unless it excels in seriousness, and therefore in freedom of
investigation.”

It is in this context that Father Jose “Jett” Villarin has
defended what the Ateneo professors have been doing. At the same time, this is the measuring rod according to
which Ateneo professors, and other professors of Catholic universities, must
examine their individual consciences.
Similarly, those who criticize them must meet them in the context of the
field of expertise from which they write and not only in the limited context of
the Baltimore Catechism.

One might also ask, is Father Jett being faithful to the
teachings of the Society of Jesus?
We Jesuits tend to disagree among ourselves about almost
everything. As an Italian saying
goes, Tre Jesuiti, quattro opinioni. Perhaps cinque or even more.
But I think if we surveyed the opinion of Jesuits in school work we will
find them overwhelmingly in agreement with the words of the Superior General of
the Jesuits, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach in an address entitled “The Jesuit
University in the Light of Ignatian Charism.” He said: “Far be it from us to try to convert the
university into a mere instrument of evangelization, or worse still, for
proselytizing. The university has
its own purposes which cannot be subordinated to other objectives. It is important to respect
institutional autonomy, academic, freedom, and to safeguard personal and
community rights.” Father Kolvenbach goes on to insist that there is no
inherent schizophrenia in the identity of a Jesuit college or university. “In
a Catholic university, or one of Christian inspiration, under the
responsibility of the Society of Jesus, there does not exist – nor can there
exist – incompatibility between the goals proper to the university, and the
Christian and Ignatian inspiration that should characterize any apostolic
institution of the Society of Jesus.

Father “Jett” told me at supper that Archbishop Chito Tagle, at
the wake for Jesse Robredo, condoled and commiserated with him (probably with a
wink!) as he parries the slings and arrows coming his way from “loyal Catholics
catechists.” Jett can take
it. He is young and was
Valedictorian of the same Ateneo college batch as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes
Sereno.